Fire Destroys Michigan Strip Mall With Social Security Office

Three businesses and a Social Security branch office were destroyed in a fire that swept through a strip mall.

Aug. 20, 2004

FLINT (AP) -- Three businesses and a Social Security branch office were destroyed in a fire that swept through a strip mall.

Firefighters were called to the strip mall at about 6:45 p.m. Thursday, after workers inside Mr. B's Foodland realized the roof was on fire. Mr. B's worker Thomas Liddell said he and others smelled smoke for about two hours but couldn't find the source.

Burning cans of food could be seen rocketing into the parking lot, The Flint Journal reported. No one was injured in the blaze.

In addition to Mr. B's and the Social Security office, a dollar store and a barbecue takeout restaurant were also destroyed.

Firefighters initially hoped to prevent the fire from spreading to the Social Security branch, but the flames spread across the roof and jumped a fire wall. Several computers from the office were salvaged.